Gabon – conviction of home-grown poachers

Traffickers and poachers arrested over the past nine months have
experienced the epilogue of the legal proceedings initiated after their
arrests.

For the most part, the maximum sentence of six months has been applied and
many fines have been imposed to deter offenders who are likely to re-offend
after being released from prison.

The round up of the courts also makes it possible to measure the commitment
of Justice in the fight against the smuggling and poaching of fully
protected species.

In Tchibanga, to begin with, it must be remembered that Benjamin Banse, a
Burkinabe, Jean-Felix Mouity, and Rodrigue Mihindou, Gabonese, were
sentenced to 6 months in prison and a fine of 500,000 CFA each for hunting,
keeping, transporting and marketing trophies of fully protected species.

In addition they will have to jointly pay the sum of 10,000,000 CFA to the
damage account. Since they had already spent six months in detention, this
committal was pronounced. They are therefore free and expected to pay the
10 million.

As for Chinedu Amos, Malonda Donatien and Bakita Dembele arrested on March
03, 2018 in possession of 12 ivory tusks and 22 pieces of the precious
product, the court of Tchibanga sentence was 6 months in prison plus 100.
000 CFA fine for hunting and holding trophies of fully protected species.

In addition, 10,000,000 CFA of damages to pay jointly to the State.

In Mouila, in the south of Gabon, only one case was judged. Sieur
MANFOU-MA-IBOUANGUE arrested on May 06, 2018 with two ivory tusks,
twenty-six elephant hairs, and two panther teeth. He was found guilty of
holding, transporting, and attempting to market trophies of fully protected
species.

He was sentenced to 3 months including a suspended 25,000 CFA fine plus
50,000 CFA in damages to pay the state. A show of hands of his mandate of
deposit was pronounced.

In Makokou, several cases were expected. First that Eboth Joli, Egouanebe
Dieudonn? and Malonda Bindza Arnaud, arrested October 18, 2017 for the
possession, transport and marketing of trophies of a fully protected
species?namely 11 tusks and 2 pieces of elephant ivory.

Eboth Joli has been convicted of the offenses of possession and
transportation of the ivory tusks.

He got six months in prison and 100 thousand CFA of fines.

Egouanebe Dieudonne has been convicted of the offenses of transporting and
attempting to sell ivory tusks. He got six months of imprisonment and 100
thousand CFA of fines.

As for Malonda Bindza Arnaud, he was found guilty of the offenses of
transportation and complicity in attempting to market the ivory tusks. He
was sentenced to six months imprisonment and 100 thousand fines.

The court sentenced them to the full dependence before ordering the hand-up
of the deposit warrants discerned against them on October 24, 2017.

In Makokou, Mahamat Saleh and Lucien Kangala, arrested on 13 December 2017
for the detention, transport, and marketing of trophies of a fully
protected species, were tried.

Kangala Lucien has been found guilty of the offenses of hunting fully
protected species (2 elephants) and attempted marketing of two ivory tusks;
he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and 100 thousand in fines.

Mahamat Saleh was found guilty of the crime of complicity in the marketing
of ivory tusks. The sentence was six months imprisonment and 100 thousand
plus depend.

The court ordered a show of hands from the warrants against them on
December 15, 2018.

In the case of Mbela, Ekouakandou, Aruna and Doht, arrested on 14 October
2017 for the detention, transport, and sale of trophies of a fully
protected species (2 tusks and 6 pieces of ivory), the court found guilty
all accomplices for hunting offenses of a fully protected species
(elephant) and attempted marketing of ivory tusks.

Akono Jean-Benoit, Nolo Bernard, Mouamouélé Landry, arrested on 10 December
2017 for the detention, transportation, and attempted commercialization of
a fully protected species (elephant) were sentenced to six months’
imprisonment and 100 thousand fines each.

In Koulamoutou, Oumsaore Noufou and Henri Mouniangui were convicted of the
offense of marketing trophies of a fully protected species but also the
offenses of illegal possession of firearms and lack of residence permit.

Burkinabe Oumasore Noufou was sentenced to one year in prison and fined
180,000 F. His accomplice Henri Mouniangui was sentenced to six months in
prison. He must pay a fine of 100 000 F.

In the case of Prince Ongoto, the trafficker was convicted of the offense
of marketing trophies of an entirely protected species (ivory tusks). He
was sentenced to six months in prison, to a fine of 200,000 F and to pay
500,000 F in damages to the State.

Diawara Hame, Korokosse Ibrahima and Traore Macancira have been convicted
of the offense of marketing trophies of a fully protected species.

They were sentenced to six months in prison and fined 500,000 F. In
addition, they were ordered to pay the state damages in the amount of
5,000,000 F.

The court ordered the confiscation of telephones linked to the procedure
and decided to return the ivory tusks to the Haut-Ogoou? Water and Forests
Administration.

Regarding Korokosse Gagny, he was convicted of attempted corruption and
sentenced to one year in prison. He will have to pay a fine of 50 000 F.

Mohamed Kokari and Hugues Nkongo have been convicted of the offense of
marketing trophies of a fully protected species.

They were sentenced to six months in prison and fined 250,000 F each. Since
the administration was not present at the hearing, the court did not rule
on D.I.

In Oyem, three cases particularly attracted the attention of the Tribunal.

First, Serge Nzamba Mouele, caught in the act of holding and marketing two
ivory tusks in Mitzic on April 11, 2018 by the agents of the center brigade
and the cantonment of Water and Forests supported by the lawyers of CJ was
found not guilty of the marketing offense but guilty of holding and
transporting trophies of a fully protected species. In repression, he is
sentenced to three months in prison, to a fine of 100,000 CFA, and to pay
the civil party 1,000,000 damages.

Subsequently, Sissoko Biram and Cisse Mamadou, arrested on April 11 at the
Bel air hotel in Mitzic for the possession and marketing of four ivory
tusks by the same units, were found not guilty of the marketing offense but
guilty of transport of trophies of fully protected species.

In repression, they were sentenced to three months of imprisonment,
respectively to a fine of 100,000 CFA and to pay the civil party 1,000,000
damages respectively.

Finally, Jean Francois Ekazam declared not guilty of the offense of
marketing but guilty of detention and transport trophies fully protected
species was sentenced to three months in prison, to 100,000 CFA fine and
pay the civil party 1,000,000 CFA damages.

He was arrested in Mitzic on June 5, 2018 for holding and marketing four
ivory tusks by the same units.